Key lever adjusting mechanism



JulyV 20, 1937. l

J. F. KocA 2,087,409

KEY LEVER ADJUSTING MECHANISM Original Filed March 2, 1933 2Sheets-Sheet l July 20, 1937. J. F. KQCA 2,087,409

. KEY LEVER ADJUSTING MECHANISM Original Filed March 2, 1933 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented july 20, 1937 UNITED STATES KEY LEVER ADJUSTINGMECHANISM `laines F. Koca, Woodstoclnllll., assigner to WoodstockTypewriter Company, Woodstock, Ell., a

corporation of Illinois 6 Claims.

This invention relates to typewriters in general, and specically tomeans for regulating typewriter keys.

This application is a division of applicants copending application,Serial No. 659,335, filed March 2, 1933.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide means of anovel character for regulating the stroke of the typewriter key.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for regulatingthe movement or the length of stroke of the key levers of electricallyoperated typewriters.

A still further object is to provide simple and eiiicient means toadjustably regulate the movement of the stroke of the key levers.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout theprogress of the following specification.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a selected embodiment of theinvention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail transverse sectional view of a, typewriter showingmeans for regulating the movement of the key levers.

Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of some of the regulating mechanism shownin Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail plan section oi the members shown in Fig. 2 on theline 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of several of the parts shown inFigs. l to 3.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modification of themeans for varying the depression of the key lever stroke.'

Fig. 6 is. a detail plan section on the line t-S of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a detail perspective View of several of the parts comprisingthe depression stroke regulating means which are shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

ne particular typewriter herein shown by way of illustration is aWoodstock typewriter and comprises a frame lil upon which key levers llare arranged in the usual manner. The key levers l l have theirrear endsoperatively supported by a transverse rod (not shown) which is removablysupported in the sub-frame of the typewriter. Type bar actuators arecontrolled by the key levers II and operate the type bars l2 through theintermediary of sub-levers (not shown).

In electric typewriters, that is, in typewriters having type bars whichare electrically actuated, the depression of the key lever to cause therotating drive shaft to operate the type bars upon depression of a keylever, is relatively small or (Cl. IS7- 22) short. However, operatorswho are used to the conventional type of machine where a long stroke isused, find it inconvenient, if not awkward, to become familiar with thenew stroke. Also, operators oi diiierent speed require a different keylever stroke. Therefore, if the stroke of the key levers can beadjusted, the operators can quickly acclimate themselves to usingelectric typewriters. Also, the depression of the typewriter key levercan be adjusted to meet the demands of various operators having variousstrokes and speeds.

The means provided for changing or varying the distance the key leverstravel vertically upon the depression of a key lever key comprises alongitudinal strip t3 made of any desirable material, but preferablysound deadening material, such as ber. The strip i3 is provided withdiagonal slots Iii which engage pins l5 projecting forwardly from aJflange it of an angle member il. The strip i3 is positioned between theflange it on the angle member ll and a flange I8 on a supporting memberI9 which is fixed to the main frame of the typewriter. The upper ilange29 of the member il abuts the underside of a flange 2i of the member i9.Screws 22 pass through elongated slots 23 in the member ll andthreadedly engage the threaded holes 2i! as indicated at 25, Fig. 1. Themember Il is adapted for lateral slidable movement relative to themember E9. The member Il is provided with a turned ear 2t, Fig. 4 havinga threaded opening 2l to receive the threaded end 28 of a thumb screw29. The thumb screw 29 is revolubly mounted in the frame it as indicatedat 39, Fig. 3, Pins Si project inwardly from the inner face of theflange i8 of the support i9 and act as a guide for the strip i3. Uponrotation of the thumb screw 29, the angle member il can be moved totheright or left, and due to the pin and slot connection between the stripI3 and the member i l, the strip i3 will be caused to raise or lowerdepending upon the direction the screw 29 is rotated. The key levers Ilwhich rest upon the usual bottom rest, will then be located in verticalmovement between the bottom rest and the bottom edge 32 of the strip i3.As the bottom rest is xed, the key levers ll will be limited in theirvertical movement or travel by raising or lowering the strip i3, itbeing understood, of course, that the key levers H are normallyspring-urged and as this spring-urging construction is well known in theart, no description thereof will be made herein. In accordance with theconstruction just described, the operator or typist, by merely op- Yfastened together in any suitable. manner, such Y as by the screws 52.

erating a thumb screw 29, may thus regulate or adjust the verticalmovement of the type lever to suit his or her individual desire. Y Y

In Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive there is shown a modified arrangementrof theparts for performtical slots 44 formed in the front Vflange 45 of Y asupporting member 46. The member 43 and the strip 40 are arrangedbetween the front flange 45 and the rear ilange 4i of the supportingmember 46. The supporting member 46 is xed to the flange l while themember 43'L is adapted to have free lateral slidable movement relativeto the supporting member.

'Ihe member 43 is provided with an inturned end 48 which is adapted toreceive the threaded end 49 of a thumbscrew 50. The thumb screw 50 hasfree revoluble movement relative to the frame I0 and is provided with athumb piece 5I for rotating the screw. During rotative move- .ment ofthe screw 50, the member 43 will be moved laterally and due to the slotand pin connection between the member 43 and the strip 49, the strip 4Uwill be forced to travel or be moved vertically, the slots 44 acting asguides for the strip 40.

. The two parts, including the member 45, are

From the construction just described and clearly shown in Figs. to 'Iinclusive, it can be readily seen that vertical movement of the keylevers llis restricted.

The invention provides improved eflicient means of relatively simpleconstruction for positively varying or regulating the vertical movementor the Idepression of theY key levers, there- V'fore permitting theoperator or typist to adjust or supporting rest for the levers to limitythe downward movement of the levers, an upper rigid member above thelevers, a sound deadening strip carried by the rigid member, means forshifting the rigid member laterally, and means associated with the rigidmember and the strip for moving Vthe strip vertically during lateralmovement of the rigid member.

2. In a typewriter having a frame, pivotally mounted key levers havingvertical movement, a supporting rest'for the levers to limit thedownward movement of the levers, an upper rigid member above the levers,a sound .deadening strip carried by the rigid member, a revolublymounted member threadedly engaging the rigid member for moving the rigidmember horizontally and a slot and pin connection between the rigidmember and strip to move the strip vertically during horizontal movementof the rigid member,

3. In a typewriter having pivotally mounted key levers and a bottom restfor said key levers, a longitudinal bar above said key levers having itsunderside forming a stop for engagement i with said key levers to vlimitthe vertical movement of said key levers, and laterally v slidable meansengageable with said stop for moving said stop vertically. y

4. In a typewriter having pivotally mounted key levers and a bottom restfor said key levers, a longitudinal bar above said key levers having itsunderside forming a stop for engagement with i said key levers to limitthe vertical movement of said key levers, laterally slidable meansengageable with said stop for moving said stopV vertically, and a thumbnut for shifting said means laterally.

5. A typewriter having a frame, key levers for said typewriter, spacedupper and lower stop elements above and below respectively of the keylevers to limit the vertical movement of the key levers, a memberadapted to be moved laterally and operatively connected to said upperstop element, and rotative means for moving said last named memberlaterally, Vlateral movement of said last named member causing verticalmovement of the upper stopelement.

6..In a typewriter having pivotally mounted` keylevers, an elongated barengageable with the key levers for limiting the movement thereof,

means including a plurality of pin and slot connections for bodilydisplacing said bar to uniformly vary the position of the bar withrespect to the key levers, and a single control member for controllingsaid means.

Y JAMES F. KOCA.

